International
Parents of students mobilize against the closure of official Spanish classrooms in London
A group of more than 160 parents of children of Spanish descent has mobilized against the closure in London and the vicinity of seven of the 25 classrooms funded by the Government of Spain for the learning of the Spanish language and culture in the United Kingdom.
The disappearance from September of these classrooms, which merge with existing ones – without reduction of places offered – to save costs, affects 26% of the 2,193 students enrolled in this country in the program of the Association of Spanish Language and Culture (ALCE), under the Ministry of Education.
Of that 26%, not all families – whose children are entitled to this free teaching service because they are descendants of Spaniards – feel harmed.
Each of the ‘classrooms’, taught during extracurricular hours in school premises in multiple districts of the city and surroundings, contains several groups of students from 7 to 17 years old, structured in levels according to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for Language Teaching.
Parents critical of the changes argue that they “threaten the continuity of many students,” since, according to a survey conducted among them, they increase the total travel time of minors by an additional hour on average, in the already complicated London logistics.
Sources from the Ministry of Education of the Spanish embassy in London told EFE that “it is not strictly a closure” but to gather and move to other facilities – such as the Spanish school Cañada Blanch in Notting Hill – the classrooms that were not viable, either because it had increased the rent in the schools that house them or because the number of students did not reach the minimum required by law.
According to these sources, the restructuring is largely due to the fact that the budget for the ALCE, which is around 85,000 pounds per year (about 100,000 euros) without counting the salary of teachers, has not been increased by the Government since 2022, compared to the significant increase in inflation in the United Kingdom.
The Ministry explains that it has been in meetings for months with directors of numerous schools in the London area and has consulted with parishes, educational centers and the British Ministry of Education, groups of residents and their own teachers “to find a viable structure economically and adequate in the pedagogical.”
“Behind the restructuring there is a conscientious and systematic study of the ALCE ‘population’, to try to cause the minimum distortion compatible with the survival of this public service in the United Kingdom,” said a spokesman.
The Ministry of Education apologized for a possible communication failure to the parents, who learned of the variations for the next 2024-25 academic year when they were already consummate.
Verónica Domínguez, from the historic classroom of Sloane Square, in western London, lamented “the lack of transparency,” while her colleague Elena Rodríguez – daughter of the Spanish immigrant who promoted the ALCE in 1984 – told EFE that, if they had been informed earlier, they would have been able to help find more conducive centers.
The Ministry dismissed its proposal to do the classes online or pay a fee, since this would violate current regulations.
However, the Ministry will receive the classroom delegates again at the end of this month in order to address their concerns, with the commitment to keep the dialogue open.
International
Trump floats Vance-Rubio potential Republican ticket for 2028 election
U.S. President Donald Trump suggested on Monday that Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubiocould potentially form a Republican presidential ticket for the 2028 elections.
Speaking during a dinner with law enforcement officials as part of National Police Week, Trump publicly praised both officials and said they could make “an ideal team” for the next presidential race.
“Who likes JD Vance? Who likes Marco Rubio?” Trump asked attendees before adding that the pair “sound like a good combination.”
The president highlighted his vice president’s performance in office, stating that their current partnership has been highly effective. “JD is perfect, that has been a perfect formula,” Trump told reporters later.
He further suggested that a Vance-Rubio pairing could represent a strong presidential and vice-presidential ticket, although he stopped short of offering any formal endorsement.
“I think it sounds like a presidential candidate and a vice-presidential candidate,” he said, while clarifying that his remarks should not be interpreted as an official backing of any future campaign.
So far, neither Vance nor Rubio has publicly confirmed any intention to run in the 2028 presidential election.
Rubio previously sought the Republican nomination in 2016 but withdrew after losing the primary race to Trump. Later, in a December 2025 interview with Vanity Fair, he said he would be among the first to support Vance if he decided to run for the White House.
Vance, meanwhile, has recently dismissed speculation of any political rivalry with Rubio amid growing discussion about potential future GOP leadership.
International
Russia Accuses Ukraine of Violating Victory Day Truce
Russia accused Ukraine on Saturday of violating a Victory Day truce that was reportedly agreed with mediation from the United States, claiming that Ukrainian forces carried out attacks on Russian territory as well as on the annexed Crimean peninsula.
Despite the declared ceasefire, the Russian Ministry of Defense said in a statement that Ukrainian forces attacked Russian military positions using attack drones and artillery.
According to the ministry, Ukrainian forces made twelve attempts to advance toward Russian-held positions across several sectors of the front line.
It also alleged that Ukrainian strikes targeted civilian infrastructure in Crimea, several border regions, the Caucasus, and other areas including Moscow and Perm in the Ural region.
The Defense Ministry estimated around 8,900 violations of the ceasefire in total, including more than 7,000 drone attacks and over 1,000 strikes involving tanks, artillery, multiple rocket launch systems, and mortars since the truce came into effect at midnight.
Russia said its forces responded “symmetrically” to what it described as violations by Ukrainian troops.
Earlier, the Kremlin denied claims that Ukraine attempted to sabotage a military parade in Red Square marking the 81st anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
“No attempts were made. Everything went well,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told local media.
International
Trump Says U.S.-Iran Talks Progressing, Signals Possible Deal on Strait of Hormuz
U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Washington is holding “very good” talks with Iran and stated that there is a strong possibility of reaching an agreement to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
“We’ve had very good conversations over the last 44 hours, and it’s very possible that we’ll reach an agreement,” Trump said during an event held in the Oval Office at the White House.
The president’s remarks came just hours after he announced a temporary suspension of the military operation aimed at escorting vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf due to Iran’s blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Trump explained that the pause in operations is intended to facilitate diplomatic negotiations between both sides and prevent further military escalation in the region.
“We’re in good shape, and right now things are going well. Now we have to achieve what we need to achieve. If we don’t, we’ll have to go much further,” the Republican president warned.
In a post published on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump reiterated that if Iran accepts Washington’s proposed conditions, military operations and the naval blockade affecting the Islamic republic would come to an end.
However, he also issued a new warning to the Iranian government, stating that the United States would respond with attacks “of greater intensity” if Tehran rejects the agreement promoted by the White House.
Panama confirms drug contamination of El Salvador coffee shipment occurred on its territory
Trump floats Vance-Rubio potential Republican ticket for 2028 election
Russia Accuses Ukraine of Violating Victory Day Truce
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